News about reptiles and amphibians. This may be news from herpetologists, organizations, but also from private persons. Everyone is welcome to send me some news about the protection, abusing, mistreatment, discoveries, etc., of these fascinating animals .

donderdag 19 april 2012

A turtle baby boom

A turtle
baby boom on the Baguan Island of Turtle Islands in the Philippines has
produced a record 1.4 million eggs according to Conservation
International (CI) Philippines citing figures from the Department of
Environment and Resources (DENR).
In 2011, a total of 14,220 Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
nests were counted on Baguan Island, the highest number since recording
at the site began in 1984. This adds up to over 1.44 million eggs which
will provide a huge boost to the population of the Green Turtle which is
listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.

“1.44 million green turtle eggs in one year is an astounding number
for a nesting beach that’s only a little over one kilometer in length.
This definitely presents great hope for boosting green turtle
populations,” said Romeo Trono, CI Philippines Country Executive Director and IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Member.
“With an average of 90% hatching success and 1% survival rate up to
sexual maturity, Baguan in 2011 alone could contribute up to 13,000 to
the adult turtle population.”

Baguan is one
of the nine islands in the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected area
(TIHPA), a protected area which is jointly managed by two countries;
Malaysia and the Philippines. Baguan is one of six islands in the
Philippines’ Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctaury and there are three
islands located in Malaysia’s Sabah Turtle Islands Park (TIP).

The nesting success has been attributed to the combined conservation
efforts of CI Philippines, DENR, local government and the Malaysian park
management authority Sabah Parks. A protection area was set up around
Baguan and law enforcement to prevent poaching, egg collection and
habitat destruction was strengthened by training park wardens, law
enforcers and community volunteers. Patrolling efforts were also
increased and the enforcements team included officers from the
Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy Marines.
“Bold protection measures such as the establishment of Baguan no-take
zone and the complete protection status of the Turtle Islands Park in
Sabah have been instrumental in ensuring a safe haven for turtles while
other beaches in the region were being lost to coastal development,”
says Dr. Nicolas Pilcher, director of Sabah-based Marine
Research Foundation and Co-Chair of the International Union for Conservation of the Nature Marine Turtle Specialist Group.Dr Nicolas
Pilcher and Romeo Trono, who are both members of the IUCN SSC Marine
Turtles Specialist Group, along with Dr. Mundita Lim and Renato Cruz at
DENR, Joel Palma at WWF Philippines and Paul Basintal at Sabah Parks,
who are all also members of the IUCN SSC Marine Turtles Specialist
Group, have been leading turtle conservation projects in Malaysia and
the Philippines for over 20 years. They have worked closely to link
government agencies and NGOs and have developed a joint network of
protected areas to safeguard turtles at all stages of their life cycles.
Records kept by DENR show there are more Green Turtle nests on Baguan
when the area is protected proving that conservation action and
protection can work.
“The hatchlings that emerge from the Turtle Islands still face great
risks throughout their lives as they journey through the ocean,” added Romeo Trono, “but at least here in the Turtle Islands, we are determined to provide them with a good start.”